The Prayer Shawl Ministry, Part 2

Our Prayer Shawl Ministry has 12 ladies who knit and crochet.  They just sent to Luke Air Force Base's Airman's Attic and to Hospice in Peoria a total of 159 beautifully handcrafted items. These are photos from the packing session.  Thanks to all who have helped with donations of yarn, coupons, and money to buy yarn.  They have just received a nice donation outside of the church for yarn, but still need more yarn, coupons, and/or money to buy yarn.

For more information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry, please see this post from August, or call the church office.  We are very proud of these ladies and their good work!

International Peacemaking

The conflicts in the Middle East have certainly been in the news a lot recently. Secretary of State John Kerry has made headlines by working to again bring the Israeli and Palestinians to the peace negotiating table. In the face of these negotiations, an announcement has been made of the approval of an additional 3000 new homes in Jewish settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

What is the real situation “on the ground” in Israel and Palestine? We have several opportunities to increase our understanding of the complexities of matters in the Holy Land.

An International Peacemaker is coming to Arizona to share her first-hand knowledge and experience with us. The Peace and Justice Network of the Presbytery of Grand Canyon is pleased to sponsor the visitor, Nora Kort, a Palestinian Christian and International Peacemaker. Arrangements for her to visit Presby-terian churches in our area were made through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the PCUSA. Ms. Kort was born and raised in Jerusalem.

Nora Kort will be speaking at University Presbyterian Church in Tempe on Saturday, October 19th at 10:00 a.m. Nora was one of the co-authors of the Kairos Palestine document – a Moment of Truth. This document is the Christian Palestinian’s word to the world about what is happening in Palestine. She will be speaking about Kairos Palestine also at University Church on Saturday, October 19th at 1:00 p.m.

Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City has invited Ms. Kort to present the message at the 10:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, October 20th. Another opportunity to hear her will be at Desert Palms Presbyterian Church in Sun City West at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 20th.

Don't miss one of these opportunities to hear Ms. Kort speak!

Celebrating Our Veterans

Veterans Day is November 11, during the period of our Season of Celebration, and we would like to celebrate the veterans in our congregation. If you are a veteran, send us a photo taken of you in your uniform and we will share it as part of our Veterans Day observance. All physical photos will be returned—or, if you’ve scanned your pictures, email us a digital copy and we’ll print it out. If you send us your story, too, we’ll share it on our Anniversary Blog. Let us celebrate YOU!

Presbyterian Women - October

September PW Gathering
Speaker Donna Yordy, PW Presbytery Moderator,
shared her mission experiences in Appalachia.

Fall has arrived!  We are resuming our activities and it is good to be together.  I hope you had a good summer and are ready to enjoy the fellowship which Presbyterian Women can provide.

Telling the Story
 
The theme of the programs at our Gatherings this year will be “Let’s Get Acquainted.”  We will have speakers from our own congregation!  They will speak on their life experiences and you are guaranteed to be entertained.

Our first program speaker will be Carol Maxwell.  Her program is “Growing Pains.”  She will be featured at our October 23^rd Gathering which will be a Salad Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.  Make plans to attend.  A sign-up sheet will be available in October.

Presbyterian Women donated $875 dollars to Agua Fria Food Bank for 25 school uniforms for children unable to purchase them.  We appreciate your support which gives us this opportunity.

We recognize those who have birthdays each month.  There are two ladies that decorate a table at Swain Hall.  This happens the second Sunday of the month at coffee following church service.  If you have any special “goodies” (cake, cookies) you would like to donate let Billie Lewis know.

Circles are meeting now.  If you have not attended one, please visit.  All women of the church are invited.  You can look forward to a Bible Study, friendship, and fellowship with other women in an intimate setting.  The Bible Study this year is the “Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy.”

Circles meet as follows:

• Circle #1—Second Tuesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in Annex 2
• Circle #2 Rachel Circle—Second Tuesday of the month at 2:30 p.m. in Annex 2
• Circle #3—Second Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. in Annex 2

Reminders:

• Saturday, October 5, is Presbytery Women Workshop at our church, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Bring kitchen and bath shower items for those who lost homes in Yarnell.
• Deadline for registration for the Synod of the Southwest Gathering in Albuquerque is October 4.  Contact Diane Nestlebush for a registration form or information.
• Next CT Meeting is Wednesday, October 2, at 9 a.m. in Annex 2.

Blessings to all of you.  I hope to see you soon at one of our gatherings.

~Diane Nestlebush, Moderator

The Party Girls are Back!

Last month we posted photos and a spoof newspaper from Rev. Clarke's retirement party.  The party, which is still talked about by everyone who attended, was planned by the “Party Girls.”  The Party Girls are Wanda Morrill and Gitta Opatz, and they’ve agreed to be the co-chairs of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee.

With the Party Girls at the helm, we can be sure that the 50th anniversary celebrations will be fun and memorable—and include free ice cream!  Watch this blog for further details!

Coming in October

Part of our Season of Celebration!

Come walk down memory lane with the Stone Soup Troupe at our October 16 Fellowship Dinner.  We will have brats and burgers at 5:30 p.m. followed by the program at 6:00.

More about the Stone Soup Troupe:

In May 1998 the idea for a Readers' Theater Group was conceived.  Thanks to the encouragement of some members of All Saints of the Desert Episcopal Church of Sun City, Nancy Esty, the wife of a retired United Methodist minister, decided to use her gifts to organize a group.  The group would consist of persons interested in reading brief selections of short stories and poetry from classic and contemporary literature woven around a theme.  The presentations would be divided into sections with musical interludes which would offer time for reflection.  Presentations would be around 55 minutes.

The organizational meeting was held in September 1998 at the home of Nancy and Marshall Esty.  Eleven persons were present.  From this group came a pianist, production manager, eight readers and director.  Nancy Esty became the director of the group newly named "The Stone Soup Troupe."  The membership of the group continued to change slightly from year to year as some members left and new members entered.  In the beginning the Troupe was housed in a single church but in the year 2008 expanded its Ecumenical focus with members from several congregations.  It is now based at Church of the Palms in Sun City.

The butter fly is a Christian symbol.  The Stone Soup Troupe decided to wear a butterfly pin to proclaim that from the "old and familiar" readings and music arise new growth, insight and relevance for our life today.  The Stone Soup Troupe's name is derived from an old folktale which tells of a traveler who arrives in a community one day and seeks a bowl of soup to appease his hunger.  Being given a stone instead of bread, the traveler borrows a pot, draws water and puts the stone on to boil.  As community residents come over to the boiling pot and ask to taste the soup, they each have some item they are sure will make the soup even better.  As they add to the soup, the aroma attracts others who add still more items.  Eventually, all the participants are nourished by the "stone soup" to which they have contributed and helped to prepare.  The traveler packs up the stone and moves on.

The purpose of the Stone Soup Troupe continues to be to uplift the spirits of all and to encourage the reading of good literature.  The Troupe hope to nourish all those who will feast on the readings they offer.  The group has performed and will continue to perform for various clubs, Life Care Centers, churches and temples, libraries, the Art Museum of the Northwest Valley, country clubs and retirement complexes.

For the year of 2013-2014, the Stone Soup Troupe will read poems and short stories around these themes:

• October and November - "Memories Grow in Value."  Making memories, sharing memories, and acting on your memories.
• December - "The Holiday Season 2013."  Celebrating the holidays with friends, the spirit of Santa Claus, and the giving and receiving of gifts.
• February, March, and April - "Finding Your Hero."  Heroes in the past, heroes in recent times and unnoticed heroes.

The Stone Soup Troupe enters its 16th season entertaining audiences with readings that are humorous as well as though-provoking - a veritable feast for the mind and soul.

The 2013-2014 Music Season is Here!

Three reasons why it's easy to take part in our music program:

• You don't have to audition.
• You don't have to retire when you're 60.
• We will welcome you enthusiastically!

Choir performances resume on Sunday, October 6, with the congregation's return to the Sanctuary for worship services.  Rehearsals start this Wednesday, September 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the choir (Westminster) Room.  Come meet our new director, Bill Gleason, and our pianist, Kelsey McKee.

If you can't sing - or even if you can - consider joining our new handbell group.  Our leader, Sherrill Tyacke, is enthusiastic and experienced.  You don't need to be able to read music; if you can count to six, you can ring.  Practices will be 1:00 - 2:30 on Wednesday afternoons in Annex 1, starting October 2.

Join us in making a joyful noise to the Lord.  We want YOU for our music program!